40 - I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!

Well, I turned forty today.  Yes, I know what you are all thinking….she is too young looking to be forty but, I can definitely tell you that I feel it some days.  According to my girls, things are starting to sag (earlobes, the girls, my butt, I think you get the picture) and I am loosing my mind on occasion.  Of course, these physical and mental deficiencies have nothing to do with giving my children the gift of life and spending hours upon hours raising them however, they are worth the sacrifice. :)

I was feeling a little depressed about turning forty and not being able to go on a girls trip with my sisters and mom this year because I am just SO FAR away.  It takes an entire day to travel to the east coast….23 hours in the air. It was difficult to arrange to meet them in Hawaii (the half way point) considering some of them have little ones to take care of so I opted to spend the day here in Sydney reminiscing about the days when I was young.

When I was a young girl, we often went to Rehoboth Beach with cousins.  We loved our time at the beach and it holds many HAPPY, HAPPY memories for me.  One of the many things that we would do at the end of the trip is go to FUNLAND  and THE CANDY KITCHEN that were on the boardwalk.  FUNLAND is this cute little amusement park that sits right on the beach.  I happen to love roller coasters, fairy floss (cotton candy), funnel cake (elephant ears), snow cones, clowns and the whole feeling of an old-time amusement park.  I would climb on the rides and laugh my guts out as I got dizzier and dizzier as the night progressed.  I was game for anything because I had a iron stomach.

So when I knew that I would be spending my fortieth birthday in Sydney, Tom wanted to know what I wanted to do on my VERY special day.  He told me that we could do whatever - the sky is the limit!  I told him that I wanted to take the kids to LUNA PARK, (www.lunaparksydney.com) a small amusement park in the Sydney Harbor.  Tom happens to hate amusement parks of all kinds so for him this sounds like an absolute nightmare of a day but, he was happy to indulge me.  We spent 5 hours at the park, we rode every ride except for 2 because I don't think my stomach is a iron-clad as it used to be.

I felt so happy to share something that I love with my girls.  They commented that this was the BEST birthday celebration EVER!  They loved seeing me delight in a memory as I told them about all of the different rides that I LOVE.  Claire and Grace had the opportunity to go to FUNLAND two years ago with their cousins and they loved it as much as I did.  It must be genetic!  

Tom was the best support.  He spent the entire day in the park, photographing the monumental day, carrying our bags, offering us refreshment including drinks, snacks and hugs.  It was splendid!  We polished off the evening with dinner at our favorite restaurant that was just a short walk from LUNA PARK.  As we walked along the boardwalk, the sun was setting in sky of the Sydney Harbor, I thought to myself that  I am really blessed to have these four wonderful people in my life.  

I am going to embrace 40 and the aging process.  If things start to sag too much, I could always get a lift….maybe that is what I will do for my 50th!

This was my favorite ride ---The "HAIR RAISER"!  It is a ride that you free-fall from a height that is above the Ferriswheel.  It is new to LUNA PARK and when the girls found out that I wanted to go on it, they were shocked.  I knew it would be a challenge for me and scare me to death but I wanted to do it.  I can definitely tell I am getting older….I was scared to death and almost peed my pants - apparently a side effect of an aging LADY.

I love this guy to bits….he ALWAYS makes me happy no matter the opportunity cost!